don’t quite remember where I got this one – probably a used bookstore. It didn’t have ISBN or copyright info, so I’m guessing self-published or an advance copy.

Either way, it was a pretty good effort.

So we have the Magellan, a deep-space exploration vessel making a time-dilated, sleep-chamber haul out on a mission of exploration. Deep in space they find an object with no relative motion, just sitting there. When they try to move it, it attempts to remain where it was, slams into the back of the shuttle bay and then burns out. Fortunately they can communication with their command on Earth instantaneously, so two teams (there and here) try to figure out just what it was they found.

Meanwhile, some of the technology discovered gives the Earth the knowledge it needs to put together something that looks an awful lot like a warship. This vessel, the Bucephalus, is quickly constructed and makes its way to join the research ship.

Of course, the aliens note one of their … whatever it was… (I don’t want to give away any of the funnier unmaskings in the book) also begin sniffing around the humans, trying to figure out what they are and what their intentions might be.

So there is a chase, battles, saves and all the things of good space opera, mixed with humor from everyone’s favorite, Hitchhikers Guide. It was funny and clever and I’ll go ahead and recommend it. I just checked and you’ll find it on Amazon – author Patrick Tomlinson. Yes, after the last few weeks, I needed a good laf.

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